Last updated on June 10, 2025
Originally published on December 20, 2024
Our Resilient Roots fellows completed their transformative 10-month skill-building and leadership development curriculum, successfully growing their climate leadership skills in Solano County. The Greenbelt Alliance and Sustainable Solano Coordinator Team led our fellows through dynamic monthly sessions that honed local expertise to address the region’s interconnected climate challenges, and equipped them with the tools to drive meaningful change in their communities.
Suisun City–one of Greenbelt Alliance’s Resilience Hotspots–and Fairfield face intersecting climate challenges that disproportionately affect low-income communities. Our initial Hotspots research inspired Greenbelt Alliance to partner with Sustainable Solano to launch a new climate fellowship program to create local climate champions and prepare communities and ecosystems for a changing climate.
Throughout the 10-month program, fellows designed capstone projects that addressed specific climate challenges in their community or around the San Francisco Estuary, incorporating the knowledge and skills acquired during the fellowship. Resilient Roots fellows applied their new skills and resources on environmental justice, local climate issues, planning and policy development, and effective communication strategies to create the change they wish to see in their own backyards.
This blog provides a snapshot of our completed Resilient Roots Climate Leaders network curriculum, with highlights from the Coordinator Team who designed and led the program.
About the Resilient Roots Sessions
Session 1: What’s Your Frontline?
Fellows learned the importance of diverse roles in climate advocacy and how everyone can contribute in unique ways. Playing various roles in climate advocacy work (e.g., Policy Advocate, Community Organizer, Researcher, Educator, Media Specialist, etc.), fellows had the opportunity to explore the collaborative relationships needed to drive climate change resilience with specific prompts. One prompt, for example, asked fellows to develop a campaign that focuses on building resilience in vulnerable communities to climate impacts in Solano County, such as flooding and heat waves. Our activity asked: What strategies can your group use to educate and mobilize residents, and how can different roles support this initiative?
Photos from the first Resilient Roots session. Photos courtesy of Greenbelt Alliance and Sustainable Solano.
Session 2: Intro to Environmental and Climate Justice
In this session, Phoenix Armenta, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s (BCDC) Senior Manager for Climate Equity and Community Engagement, gave an overview of environmental justice (EJ) principles. Their case study of redlining and toxicity in West Oakland provided fellows with an understanding of climate-vulnerable communities, and was followed by an activity to understand EJ through various data tools to identify disparities.
Fellows participated in an engaging discussion with Liat Meitzenheimer who shared about Fresh Air Vallejo’s hard fought environmental justice win that took local organizing, political strategy, and continuous pressure to ultimately stop a harmful development.
Photos from the second Resilient Roots session. Photos by Essex Cook.
Session 3: Storytelling, Data Tools, and How To Communicate Effectively
Our fellows came together for an inspiring workshop led by urban planner Lakeisha Wright, learning how to transform our experiences into powerful stories and advocacy campaigns that are key for making change.
Through interactive exercises and meaningful discussions, we explored ways to share the fellow’s stories and turn data into compelling narratives that resonate with hearts and minds. Fellows leveraged storytelling tools to explore how lived experience can be a powerful tool for organizing, advocating, and making sure your perspective is heard.
Photos from the third Resilient Roots session. Photos courtesy of Greenbelt Alliance and Sustainable Solano.
Session 4: Parks and Green Spaces
Our fourth Resilient Roots session provided fellows with an understanding of tree equity, the importance of greenspaces, and linkages between urban greenspace and climate resilience. Our first guest speaker, Di Holokahi from the Solano Land Trust spoke to her work in increasing outdoor access among the youth and addressing barriers to recreational opportunities.
Next, Solano County Supervisor Wanda Williams discussed the critical role of local government in advocating for equitable access to parks and green spaces, emphasizing how these areas support environmental justice, community health, and climate resilience. To put this knowledge into practice, fellows engaged in an interactive ‘Dream Your Park’ activity to explore the ins and outs of recreation resources and park needs in their own communities.
Photos from the fourth Resilient Roots session. Photos courtesy of Greenbelt Alliance and Sustainable Solano.
Session 5: Food Systems, Farming, and Climate Justice
On a sunny Saturday in January, our fifth Resilient Roots session brought fellows to Soul Food Farm in Vacaville! Alexis Koefoed, the owner of Soul Food Farm, led fellows on a tour of the sustainable farm and a discussion of regenerative agriculture. Over lunch, we were joined by members of the Solano Local Food System Alliance to discuss our local food system and share triumphs and challenges of farming in Solano. As part of this discussion the group talked about how climate change is impacting farming operations and what shifts may still be ahead.
Photos from the fifth Resilient Roots session. Photos by Brianna Casanares
Session 6: Sea Level Rise and Adaptation
Our sixth Resilient Roots session welcomed San Francisco Estuary Institute’s Senior Scientist, Ellen Plane, to share about how the Bay has changed over time and how sea level rise will likely impact Fairfield and Suisun. Ellen introduced fellows to different types of adaptation options and ways for working with natural systems to build resilience. To put that content into practice, Janette Kim, Professor at California College of the Arts, then facilitated her original interactive board game, “It in Together,” where fellows took on roles and worked competitively and collaboratively to meet their individual and collective goals while adapting to changing sea level conditions.
As we debriefed the session, we discussed goals and priorities that are key for equitable adaptation—feedback that will be integrated into the Solano Bayshore Adaptation Planning Project as it gets underway in identifying adaptation projects for the County’s bayshore communities, including Suisun and Fairfield.
Photos from the sixth Resilient Roots session. Photos courtesy of Greenbelt Alliance
Session 7: Air Quality and Public Health
In this session, Greenbelt Alliance and Sustainable Solano brought community members together for an evening centered on air quality and public health.
The event began with a casual dinner, allowing participants to connect over food and conversation. After a brief introduction, Nicholas (Nick) Spada from UC Davis’ Air Quality Research Center delivered an uplifting 40-minute presentation. Nick expertly covered the basics of air quality and pollution, sparking thoughtful dialogue and inspiring participants with his clear, accessible insights. His passion for sustainability shone through, empowering the community to embrace proactive solutions for a healthier environment.
Following his talk, attendees engaged in a hands-on air filter activity, collaboratively creating corsi-rosenthal air purifiers. By following a detailed guide and video, groups discovered how DIY air filters can play a practical role in improving indoor air quality—especially critical during wildfire season.
Ashley Feigel from the Solano County Department of Public Health then discussed the serious public health impacts of poor air quality, stressing the disproportionate effects on vulnerable communities. Her talk shed light on how vulnerable communities in Solano County are disproportionately affected and emphasized the need for preventative measures.
Session 8: Permaculture and Green Infrastructure
Session 8 brought together our Resilient Roots Fellows for an energizing and deeply rooted exploration of Permaculture and Green Infrastructure—a session that grounded us, quite literally, in the possibilities of working with nature to build more sustainable and resilient communities.
Sustainable Solano anchored this powerful workshop, which was co-facilitated by Heath Griffith and Jonathan Gomez, two local leaders deeply committed to community-based climate resilience. Their dynamic facilitation style effectively brought the session’s goals to life by providing hands-on permaculture training, expanding participants’ understanding of green infrastructure and its benefits, sparking interest in green job opportunities, and contributing to the installation of real-world, climate-resilient infrastructure.
The vibe was warm and welcoming, with conversations ranging from local gardening efforts to climate advocacy wins. It’s always inspiring to witness how these informal moments of connection fuel the energy of our formal programming.
Heath, permaculture designer and educator, led a compelling, interactive presentation that invited fellows to reimagine urban landscapes through a regenerative lens. They walked us through the ethics and principles of permaculture—earth care, people care, and fair share—and tied those ideals directly to community needs in places like Fairfield and Suisun. From rain gardens and bioswales to food forests and rooftop gardens, Heath shared actionable green infrastructure strategies that felt both visionary and practical.
What stood out most was the way fellows responded—eyes lighting up with every new possibility for transforming underutilized spaces in their own neighborhoods. They asked thoughtful, place-based questions, clearly thinking about how these systems could take root where they live.
The hands-on activity brought permaculture to life. Teams collaborated to create a rain garden at Suisun City’s Joseph A. Nelson Community Center. This garden will remain at the community center as a working example of how to create drought and flood resilient landscapes through stormwater capture systems, native plant installations, and pollinator pathways —all rooted in sustainability, equity, and local culture.
We closed the session with a circle of reflection. Fellows shared how permaculture shifted their understanding of environmental work—many noting how empowering it felt to execute solutions that are not only ecological but also community-driven. Onward to Session 9: Putting Ideas into Action—with more seeds of resilience planted and already beginning to sprout.
Session 9: Ideas into Action – Where Do We Go from Here?
The Resilient Roots cohort came together for the last session of our program, Session 9 at the Solano Innovation Center in Fairfield. With the theme “Ideas into Action: Where Do We Go from Here?”, the evening focused on helping fellows take their capstone projects from concept to reality—and getting one step closer to the big moment: presenting at the upcoming Resilient Roots: Climate Leaders Summit.
From the moment folks arrived, the space buzzed with positive energy. Fellows filled out program evaluations, grabbed plates of food from a local caterer, and caught up with each other before diving into the session.
The night’s main program was a powerful panel conversation featuring three local leaders doing inspiring work:
- Heather Pierini, founder of Food is Free Bay Area, told the story of how her backyard garden evolved into a community food-sharing network during the pandemic, proving how grassroots efforts can have a big impact.
- Shy Walker, CEO of Ninth Root and former East Oakland Resiliency Shoreline Fellow, spoke about building a movement rooted in healing, land stewardship, and environmental justice in East Oakland.
- Mike Ioakimedes, Chief Development Officer at Solano Community Foundation, shared what funders look for and how philanthropy can support grassroots solutions that center equity and sustainability.
Together, they unpacked what it really takes to turn ideas into action—from finding your “why” to building trust and staying flexible in the face of funding challenges. The panelists didn’t just share their wins—they got real about the challenges, too. From burnout to funding gaps to learning how to ask for help, the conversation was honest, grounding, and full of practical takeaways. Fellows walked away with new language, new ideas, and renewed motivation.
After a quick break, fellows moved into peer review groups, where they presented their projects and got constructive feedback from their peers and the panelists. Using a set of guiding questions, the conversations helped sharpen goals, clarify messaging, and spark ideas for the road ahead. Fellows walked away with stronger plans—and more confidence.
To close out, we came back together for MARS (Mirror, Announcements, Reflections, and Shout-outs). Everyone had a chance to reflect, share key takeaways, and celebrate each other’s progress. The energy in the room was hopeful, proud, and ready to take on what’s next.
With final projects due June 1, the countdown is on. Fellows will showcase their projects at the Resilient Roots Climate Leaders Summit—and you won’t want to miss it. Come see what community-powered climate action looks like.
Celebrating Success: Climate Leaders Summit
In June 2025, Greenbelt Alliance and Sustainable Solano hosted our Climate Leaders Summit in Suisun City, bringing together over 100 community members for an inspiring celebration of climate resilience in Solano County.
Our Resilient Roots fellows showcased the culmination of their 10-month skill-building and leadership development journey, presenting innovative capstone projects that addressed real climate challenges in their communities. The summit provided a powerful platform for our fellows to share their visions for building resilience through local action, with three projects receiving special recognition for their innovation, community impact, and actionable implementation.
This milestone event marked not just the graduation of our inaugural cohort, but the beginning of an expanding movement of locally-rooted climate leaders equipped to drive meaningful change in Solano County and beyond.
Read the full recap of the Climate Leaders Summit and learn more about our fellows’ award-winning projects here.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (98T89401) to (Greenbelt Alliance/People for Open Space). The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.
Banner photo of Resilient Roots fellows by Brianna Casanares. Group photo by Essex Cook.
